With a population of just over 160,000 people in 2010, Sioux Falls boasts big-city amenities in a small-town atmosphere. In 2010, CNN's "Money Magazine" named Sioux Falls one of the best places to live in the United States, citing its superb health care facilities, friendly citizens, economic resilience and job outlook as outstanding features. The same year, "Parenting" magazine listed Sioux Falls as one of the best cities for families. And "Forbes" magazine called Sioux Falls the "best small city for business and careers" for eight years in a row.
Tuition at the Sanford School of Medicine is low if you come from within the state. For the 2009--10 school year, tuition for residents of South Dakota was $15,892, compared with $38,067 for out-of-state students.
Graduates of the school earn an M.D. degree. Students also have the option of earning a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in addition to their medical degree. Although the school emphasizes family medicine, it also offers residencies in internal medicine, pathology, psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry and pediatrics, as well as a special "transitional year" residency.
In 2009, the total enrollment of Sanford School of Medicine was 214 students, with 301 full-time faculty. That's 1.4 faculty members for every student.
In late 2008, the University of South Dakota dedicated a $37 million "state-of-the-art" Andrew E. Lee Memorial Medicine and Science Building.
In a recent evaluation of the medical school for reaccreditation, which was granted through 2018, the accrediting body noted Sanford's impressive leadership, professionalism, "responsive and supportive environment," "dedicated physicians" and other strengths.
The school publishes a magazine, "South Dakotan M.D.," twice a year.